Method and device for controlling the air-conditioning function of a transportation vehicle seat

Abstract

A method for controlling the air-conditioning function of a transportation vehicle seat wherein a value of an air-conditioning parameter is set by an operating element which is moved from a null position in two opposite directions. The air-conditioning parameter controls the distribution of an air-conditioning function in different regions along a first direction indicated by the geometry of the transportation vehicle seat. The separate regions include at least one first and second region. A uniform distribution of the air-conditioning function is produced in the regions in the null position of the operating element. When the operating element is moved in one direction of the two opposite directions, the value of the air-conditioning parameter for at least one of the first and second regions remains constant and is changed for at least the other of the first and second regions. Also disclosed is a device for carrying out the method.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for controlling a climate control function of a transportation vehicle seat, the method comprising:
 setting a value of a climate control parameter in response to operation of an operating element which is movable from a neutral position in two opposing directions, wherein the climate control parameter controls distribution of the climate control function in separate regions along a first direction associated with geometry of the transportation vehicle seat, wherein the separate regions comprise at least one first and one second region; 
 generating an equal distribution of the climate control function in the first and second regions in the neutral position of the operating element; 
 in response to the operating element being moved in one of the two opposing directions, maintaining the value of the climate control parameter constant for at least one region of the first and second regions and changing the value of the climate control parameter for at least the other of the first and second regions; 
 maintaining the value of the climate control parameter constant for at least the first region and decreasing the value of the climate control parameter for the at least the second region in response to the operating element being moved in a second direction; and 
 in response to the operating element being moved in a third direction opposite to the second direction, maintaining the value of the climate control parameter constant for at least the second region and decreasing the value of the climate control parameter for the at least the first region. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the value of the climate control parameter is further decreased for the second region the greater a distance of the operating element is from the neutral position in the second direction. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the value of the climate control parameter is further decreased for the first region the greater a distance of the operating element is from the neutral position in the third direction. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operating element comprises a slide element. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the slide element is a switch element displayed on a display area. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein a graphic element of the transportation vehicle seat to be climate controlled is displayed on the display area, and the switch element is arranged on the display area so that a displacement of the slide element represented by the switch element in the second direction represents an association with the backrest of the transportation vehicle seat represented by the graphic element, and a displacement of the slide element represented by the switch element in the third direction represents an association with a seat surface of the transportation vehicle seat represented by the graphic element. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 controlling a value of a further climate control parameter in response to operation of a further operating element, wherein the further climate control parameter controls distribution of a further climate control function in the separate regions along the first direction; 
 generating an equal distribution of the further climate control function in the regions in response to the further operating element being in a neutral position; and 
 maintaining the value of the further climate control parameter constant for at least one region of the first or second regions and changing the further climate control parameter for at least the other of the first and second regions in response to the further operating element being moved in one of two opposing directions. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the value of the further climate control parameter is maintained constant for at least the first region and is decreased for at least the second region in response to the further operating element being moved in the second directions, and
 wherein the value of the further climate control parameter is maintained constant for at least the second region and is decreased for at least the first region in response to the further operating element being moved in the third direction. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the value of the further climate control parameter is maintained constant for at least the second region and is increased for at least the first region in response to the further operating element being moved in the second direction; and 
 the value of the further climate control parameter is maintained constant for at least the first region and is increased for at least the second region in response to the further operating element being moved in the third direction. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the value of the climate control parameter and/or the further climate control parameter is represented for the regions by a graphic element of the seat to be climate controlled. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the further climate control parameter is a seat heater, by which the first and second regions of the transportation vehicle seat are heated. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the value of the seat heater is displayed by a graphic element by heating wires in the transportation vehicle seat represented by the graphic element. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the climate control parameter is a seat ventilator, by which the first and second regions of the transportation vehicle seat are ventilated. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the value of the seat ventilator is displayed by a graphic element by an envelope at the graphic element of the represented transportation vehicle seat. 
     
     
       15. A device for controlling a climate control function of a transportation vehicle seat, the device comprising:
 a climate control device that uses a settable value of a climate control parameter to control distribution of the climate control function in separate regions along a first direction associated with geometry of the transportation vehicle seat, wherein the separate regions comprise at least one first and one second region; 
 an operating element, which is movable from a neutral position in two opposing directions; and 
 a control device, which is coupled to the climate control device and the operating element and is configured so that an equal distribution of the climate control function is generated in the regions in the neutral position of the operating element in response to the operating element being moved in one of the two opposing directions, the value of the climate control parameter is maintained constant for at least one region of the first and second regions and is changed for at least the other of the first and second regions, 
 wherein the control device is configured so that the value of the climate control parameter remains constant for at least the first region and is decreased for at least the second region in response to the operating element being moved in a second direction, and the value of the climate control parameter remains constant for at least the second region and is decreased for at least the first region in response to the operating element being moved in a third direction opposite to the second direction. 
 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 15 , wherein the first region climate controlled by the climate control device is located within a backrest of the transportation vehicle seat and the second region climate controlled by the climate control device is located within a seat surface of the transportation vehicle seat. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 15 , wherein the climate control device is a seat heater and/or a seat ventilator.